COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONThis is our special ale from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons appears born anew.

Editor’s Note: due to the significant similarity in style and strength from year to year (despite potential differences in the exact spice blend), this beer is no longer separated by vintage.

UPDATED: MAR 17, 200712oz. bottle - pours very dark brown with ruby highlights and a light brown, caramel head leaving elegant lacing in the glass. Aroma is very malty, fruity and tart, somewhat sweet. Reminded me of many traditional English dark ales, actually, but with notes of chocolate and molasses. Flavour however is a kick in the ass, a very complex array on the palate. Starts off with some sweet chocolate, spruce, lots of spice that I can’t put my finger on. Finishes with toffee and chocolate, along with some sweet maltiness and light vanilla. The aftertaste is long and delicious. This is a very unique, complex and satisfying beer. Great!

12 oz bottle, 2006 edition - pours dark, dark red with a little white head that leaves rather quickly. Beautiful aroma of dark fruits, prunes, sour cherries, molasses, and some sweet malt. Flavour is more of the same, although a bit too carbonated, making the beer at times feel like a Dr. Pepper or something. Yeah, kind of poppish at first, but as the glass warms, this fades. Dark pine sap notes and some intriguing exotic spice, and a bit of tar as well. Good, very good. Bitter finish. Very nice on a cold winter’s eve.

Pinecones, cloves, cinnamon nose. Pine, sweet taste with plenty of spice. Finishes with bittersweet chocolate, some tartness. Smells and tastes like christmas. However a Florida christmas smells like tequila, vomit, and pork. Brew that up next year.

UPDATED: MAR 28, 2009 2005. Deep black with a nice tan head. Pours a nice head. Smells of sweet malts, syrup, toffee, dried fruit. Very odd beer. There is a weird tangy flavor at the beginning, almost tart sourness leading to a dry palate. Smoky almost, coating the tongue. Very different. There may be a spice here that I am missing that is causing the sourness but I cant pick it out. RATED 2.7.
2008
Settles like a nice stout: Guinness comes to mind. deep black with hints of amber color. Frothy tan head. Beautiful in the glass. Great lacing. Smells of spice and malt, coriander and cloves. Tastes excellent, fruity, candy, licorice maybe, a little chocolate malt, some espresso. Dry and bitter finish, not hops bitter but cofee bitter. Way better than the 2005
RERATED at 3.7

Bottle from Ross. Pours deep brown with a nice beige head. Aroma of christmas tree needles and spices (cinnamon stick and nutmug). Medium thin mouthfeel. Flavor of bitter chocolate, vanilla, and cheap red wine mixed in with spice flavors of clove, cinnamon, and spruce. Bitter and spicy finish, in which I pick up more spruce. I am not really digging this, perhaps there is too much spruce and not enough residual sweetness. The 2004 was much better.

Another classic Anchor winter brew. Flavor is full of shaped spices that release a very nice aroma. Appearance is dark with a frothy head. Mouthfeel is incredibly smooth for a dark beer. A wonderful brew if you can get your hands on it.

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